The Path of Rage. The Human Suplex Machine. The Most Miserable Man on the Planet. The FTW Heavyweight Champion. An ECW Triple Crown Champion. The only man to wear the ECW World Heavyweight Championship inside of a World Wrestling Federation ring. This is also the same man who started in Extreme Championship Wrestling as the Tasmaniac. Taz? Certainly not the Tasmaniac, and in blending a street-tough urban attitude with a heaping blend of mixed martial arts, judo and excellence at executing wrestling suplexes, was easily one of not just ECW's - but pro wrestling's - most beloved wrestlers during his time in Paul Heyman's promotion. Appearing to be unbeatable was only a piece of Taz's mystique. As well, there was his UFC-style training squad "Team Taz" that accompanied him to ringside, as well as whistle-blowing manager Bill Alphonso, and the ability to deliver in "money" scenarios including wrestling Sabu at ECW's first Pay-Per-View Barely Legal, his 1998 "FTW" Title introducing feud with Shane Douglas, and yes, while as a contracted WWF performer, defeating Mike Awesome for the ECW Championship in 2000.
Besides having been an independent professional wrestling manager for a decade, Marcus Dowling is a Washington, DC-based writer who has contributed to a plethora of online and print magazines and newspapers writing about music and popular culture over the past 15 years.
